(D2 Entry) Butterflies of the Night, ch 13/14

[Fallen Angel]

Author: Fallen Angel, fallen_angel_2012@hotmail.com
Categories: Alternate Universe, Romance, Series.
Disclaimer: not mine
Rating: NC-17. Okay guys, LEMON ahead. Just thought I?d warn you. Turn back now if you don?t want to read it. If, like me, you?re a little bit of a pervert, :p then enjoy! This is dedicated to all those who?ve reviewed my work, *waves pompoms* I love you guys?.

Author?s note: Alright, before you read on, a brief cultural lesson in the workings of a kimono. For those who don?t know what I mean, it?s traditional Japanese dress. For a geisha a kimono is an elaborate work of art. There?s the main over-robe, held together by a wide band of silk, half a metre wide and 10 metres long called an obi, which is very difficult to tie as it is knotted in a special way in the back. This is held in place with a thin cord around the middle, called an obijime or obitjime. Underneath, a woman wears an under-robe, which is usually tied together and underneath that some plain cotton bands around the privates, which acts like underwear. (I say usually. A woman wouldn?t wear them if she were planning on taking them off again quickly. And if you can?t pick up the naughty hint there, you may not be naughty enough to read this chapter.)
The male kimono is more like a training gi for karate, with loose drawstring pants and a robe to the thighs, held together with a thinner, simpler obi tied in the front. Sorry to delay the story, but you should know that. *wink, wink*


CHAPTER 13: HEAVEN
{

Cold.
It surrounded her, touching every part of her, filling her lungs and chilling her blood.
Death, thought Relena. So this is what death is like.
In her mind?s eye, she saw the faces of her loved ones. Milliardo?s stern but caring big-brother expression, Noin?s motherly one, Hilde?s laughing smile?
Heero?s eyes.
She saw them so clearly, she almost believed they were in front of her. Although that was stupid, she thought, she was dead?dying, anyway?drowning in the cold waters of the stream she had fallen into. And Heero was still alive.
But how was he so clear in front of her, if he wasn?t also a spirit, reaching out his hand towards her? He was so close, the warmth of him, the smell of him?like wood and spice and something else? Without thinking she reached out her hand towards him?
And felt fingers close around her own!
?Relena!? A voice was calling and suddenly two hands were firmly around her wrist, pulling her, dragging her away from the darkness.
?Relena!? The voice called again, and suddenly the coldness around her was gone and she felt air upon her face. Gratefully, instinctively, she gulped for sweet breath as she felt her body pulled from the water and onto solid ground. As she coughed up cold water, she raised her face and saw the last people in the world she expected to see.
Hilde was there, supporting her. Beside her sister were Noin and Sally. Relena blinked. Was she dreaming?
?How??? she murmured when she could breathe again.
Hilde spoke first. ?You?re really lucky I can?t keep my nose out of other people?s business. Otherwise I wouldn?t have been suspicious over where Duo was going tonight.?
?So much so,? continued Noin, ?that she came to us, worried that there was something bad happening. Sally and I had felt the same thing when you disappeared midway through the show, even though Trowa Barton had assured us everything was fine. He told us you were with Heero Yuy but no one had seen either of you for hours.?
At the mention of Heero?s name, everything came back to Relena in a rush: standing at Kiyomizu, decided between her life and Heero?s, making her choice?A hand went to her middle, where the bullet had hit her.
But her hand came away clean. No blood. In fact, now that she thought about it, besides feeling cold and half-drowned, she felt pretty good for someone who?d been shot.
?Relena?? asked Sally, upon seeing the look on the younger woman?s face, ?Is everything all right??
?I?? Relena shook her head in confusion. ?I was shot. That was why I fell: the force of the bullet threw me back and the railing gave way but?but there?s no wound.?
Hilde raised the lantern she was holding over Relena?s middle and smiled. ?You were shot all right and you would have been dead if not for this.? And with that, she pulled Relena?s dancer?s fan - a vital prop for any geisha - from where she?d tucked it into her obi. Made of pale cream silk and bamboo, it was mostly too frail to stop a bullet. Except for the lining on either end, which had been made of a thin, shimmering layer of onyx. Now, a thin, narrow crack shattered it where the bullet had hit and been lodged.
Noin whistled. ?I swear, Relena, the gods must work overtime watching over you.?
But Relena wasn?t even listening. Her gaze had gone upwards, focused on the pagodas of Kiyomizu. ?Oh my god,? she said suddenly. ?Heero! I have to go to him. He may be in danger. Or he may think I?m?I?m dead. I have to let him know I?m alright.? She attempted to stand, but Noin stopped her.
?Relena, you?re in no condition to go anywhere. We need to get you home and into some warm clothing.?
?Noin?? But even as Relena said it, she could feel her teeth chattering. Whether because of shock or temperature, she couldn?t tell, but it made her realise that she couldn?t make it back up the mountain in this condition.
Sally put a hand on Relena?s shoulder. ?Don?t worry. I?ll go find Heero and tell him you?re alive and well.?
Relena nodded. ?Thank you, Sally. I only pray you find him the same way.?

{

Wufei tensed. ?Wait.?
Duo froze, the arm not supporting Wufei going to the pistol at his belt. With his good hand, Wufei had also reached for his katana.
?What is it??
?I heard something,? said Wufei softly. ?A noise in the bushes.?
Duo looked around him, suddenly finding the woodlands beside the path down the mountain ominous and dark. He also realised how alone he and Wufei were, and how susceptible to attack. Quatre and Trowa would be a long way ahead by now, bringing a bound and humbled Trieze and Une with them. ?Uh,? said Duo hesitantly. ?Maybe it?s an animal.?
Wufei sighed. ?Wait here, I?ll go investigate. Animal, my foot.?
?But you?re injured,? said Duo. ?Don?t be so stubborn.?
But it was too late. Wufei had stumbled off into the trees. ?Humph,? said Duo with a shrug. ?And to think he called me crazy.?
Not far away, Wufei heard the American muttering but blocked it out of his mind. In fact, by breathing deeply and calling on all his training, he was even able to block out the pain of his injury. He blocked out everything by the sound of his prey. Because it was the prey now. Whoever it was - if they were following Wufei and Duo - seemed unaware that they were the ones now being followed.
Biding his time, Wufei waited until he was positive he?d been undetected. Then, with little more the sound of metal cutting through air, he brought his katana to the throat of his prey?
?and found himself face to face with the last person he?d expected to see here.
The last person he?d expected to see ever again.
Sally Po.
?Wufei!? she cried happily, barely noticing the katana at her throat, the katana that - a few inches more - would have killed her.
She may not have noticed it, but Wufei did with a start and sheathed his weapon. ?Sally! Damn it, woman, I could?ve killed you!?
?But you didn?t, so don?t worry about it.? A smile brightened her face. ?You are a sight for sore eyes.?
?I wish I could say the same, Sally,? said Wufei, ?but this is no place for a woman to be wandering alone at night.?
?Look who?s talking about being alone in the woods. What are you doing here, anyway??
?Sally?? his instinct?his training?told him to lie, to keep the truth from her. And then he saw before him, like a waking nightmare, the death of Relena. Like Heero, he?d felt the anger and frustration and bitter guilt that there had been nothing he could do to save her. But now, with the woman he loved right in front of him, all he could feel was fortunate he would have the chance to say all the things Heero would never be able to.
?Yes Wufei??
He cleared his throat. ?Sally, there?s something I have to tell you. Something I?ve wanted to tell you for a long time. You were right at the beginning: I?m not a soldier. Not exactly. I?m a?well, I suppose you?d say I?m a spy. I was sent here to protect Heero Yuy, by the Emperor of China.? He took a deep breath. Why was this always the hardest part to say? Was it because, to him, it was what would always put the largest distance between him and those around him? ?The Emperor is my uncle.?
Sally nodded. ?I thought it might be something like that,? she said, ?after Hilde told me you were involved in all this.? She cocked her head to one side, examining his face. ?Why were you so hesitant to tell me? Were you afraid it would change the way I feel about you??
Wufei couldn?t meet her eyes. Hearing it from her mouth made him feel guilty for not realising if there was one person in the world he could have trusted with his identity, it was Sally. If there was one thing he?d learnt about her in the time he?d known her, one thing he would carry with him for all time, was that she saw people for who they really were, for the honour and integrity inside their soul.
Seeing his reaction, Sally reached out her hand to his. ?Wufei, don?t feel bad. There are many people in this world who would have judged you or deceived you, knowing you had money and power. But I saw who you were in the alley that night, and though I didn?t understand it at the time, I felt like you showed me who you really were by trying to see who I really was. And I don?t know about you, but I saw someone like me?someone afraid to trust, for whatever reason, someone afraid to love.? She placed her hand against Wufei?s face and the warmth of it on such a cold night gave Wufei more comfort than he could explain in words. He turned his face into her palm, closing his eyes and breathing deeply of the scent of her skin. ?Wufei, whatever you could have said to me tonight wouldn?t have changed how I feel about you. To me, it wouldn?t matter if you were royalty or a pauper, I would still love you.?
Wufei?s eyes opened immediately at the words but he didn?t turn his face to hers. Deep down, he was afraid?afraid that he would meet her eyes and see the slightest trace that she was lying.
?Wufei?? She tilted his face to hers, but he kept his eyes averted.
An age seemed to pass and then, softly, her lips were on his, warm and caressing, but gentle still, hesitant and fearful all at once. It was all that was needed to reassure Wufei he wasn?t dreaming this and, suddenly, he was kissing her back, hungrily. Sally moaned, breaking away from the kiss and throwing her head back. Wufei took the opportunity and ran soft kisses down her neck to the gap at her collarbone where her kimono opened.
?Oh, Wufei,? she gasped, clutching at him?
?Argh!? he cried and Sally let go of Wufei as if he had burnt her.
?Wufei, what is it? What did I do??
He was clutching at his right shoulder and wincing. ?Not your fault,? he gasped, smiling wryly. ?I guess I forgot. I should have warned you.?
?By the gods, Wufei,? Sally said, leaning in close to examine him. ?You?re wounded. What happened? I can?t believe I didn?t check no one had been hurt.?
Wufei?s head snapped up. In the shock of seeing Sally here he?d forgotten that she was Relena?s ?Okaasan?. How was he going to tell her what had happened? She would be devastated. ?Sally, there?s something you need to know.?
?Hey, Wufei! Buddy, are you okay?!?
A choice few Chinese words left Wufei?s lips in a curse. ?Damn that American, he has the worst sense of timing. I?m over here, Duo!?
There was a crashing noise as Duo fell through some pine bushes. ?Ow, that hurt,? he said, picking himself up and brushing off the pine needles. ?What the heck were you doing, Wufei? You had me worried? I couldn?t find you and then when I heard you call out?oh.? He fell into a sudden silence as he caught sight of Sally Po, standing there bemused.
She was the first to recover, a sense of manners being ingrained in her since she arrived in Kyoto. ?So nice to meet you?I presume you are the infamous Duo Maxwell.?
He grinned. ?Yeah, glad to know I?m building a reputation. And you are??
?Sally Po.?
Wufei held back a laugh as Duo went white as a sheet. Understandably. Sally may have been beautiful and graceful in her own way, but she was also very intimidating at times. Especially since she was doing nothing more than smiling politely - and unnervingly - at Duo.
?Um?? Duo found himself totally lost for words. ?You?ve, uh, you?ve heard about me.?
?Yes,? Sally said, still smiling. ?Hilde?s told me all about you. And about the engagement.?
Wufei had to snicker now as Duo went an even paler shade of white. ?Oh. Well, about that?it?s not like we were never going to tell you?just waiting for the right time?uh, if there is such a thing?um??
Sally calmly held up a hand to silence him. ?It?s okay Duo. Noin and I had a good talk with Hilde tonight and we?ve reached an agreement.?
?Which is?? asked Duo, his heart in his mouth.
?I?m sure you?ll make a wonderful husband for Hilde,? said Sally. ?And if you don?t, we?ll make sure you regret it.?
?Eep,? was all Duo could say and Sally laughed.
?I?m joking. Relax, Duo. You and I will have to have a talk later to discuss the final details,? she turned to Wufei again at this point. ?But for the time being, there are other things to take care of. Wufei is badly injured, I want to see he?s taken care of. We can?t take you to a doctor so I?ll have to treat you. But before that, I must find Heero Yuy. Provided he?s survived whatever private war you men have been involved in tonight.?
?He?s?? Duo hesitated, glancing at Wufei. The look on the other man?s face said that he hadn?t been able to tell Sally about Relena either. ?Well, Heero?s uninjured. But Miss Po??
?Good,? she said, cutting him off. ?It would be a horrible fate, seeing as Relena was so lucky to still be alive, to find that Heero had been hurt instead. She was terrified that would happen when we found her.?
Duo stared at Sally, struggling to make sense of her words and then, struggling to believe they were saying what he thought they were saying.
?Are you telling me Relena is alive??
?I know. It was a close thing,? said Sally, shaking her head. ?If Noin and I hadn?t come here tonight, Relena may have drowned in the river.? She could see Wufei and Duo had a hundred questions on their lips. ?I?ll tell you all about it later, and you can fill me in on the details I seemed to have missed. For the time being, it?s imperative I find Heero and tell him this. Where is he??
Duo frowned. ?He took another way down the mountain, going back to his room at the Ichikoko. At the rate he was moving, though, you?ll never catch him. He may well be back in Kyoto by now.?
There was silence while Sally thought. ?I see. Then perhaps fate has intervened on this one. Perhaps it was never my place to speak to Heero.?
?What?? asked Wufei. ?I don?t understand.?
?Never mind,? said Sally, placing one arm around Wufei, mindful of his shoulder. ?You need medical attention. Duo, you get on his other side.?
?Where are we going now??
?Back to my place.?
?But what about Heero?? asked Duo.
?Don?t worry,? Sally assured him. ?He?ll find out as soon as possible.? She bit her lip. ?But first I need to speak to Relena.?

{

Less than an hour later, Relena was standing at the rear entrance to the Ichikoko teahouse, more nervous than she?d ever been in her life. For the first time, she wasn?t entering as Miss Relena, one of the most popular geisha in Gion, and thus, all of Japan. She wasn?t buoyed, as she was even on her worst days, by the thought that people had paid a lot of money for her company and would be thrilled even if she did nothing more than walk into their party and out again.
No, tonight was not like all the other nights, and it showed in the way her hand trembled as she knocked on the door. She took a breath to calm herself, to relieve the tension of knowing she nearly died tonight. Maybe Noin had been right after all, maybe she shouldn?t have come.
?Sally, by the Gods, she was nearly drowned in the river tonight. And shot too,? Noin had said when Sally had left Wufei?s side to speak with Relena. ?Should she be leaving the house at all??
?Heero Yuy leaves for Tokyo tomorrow morning,? replied Sally. ?After that, he will be in China for anyone knows how long?Noin, as far as I?m concerned, too much has happened tonight?I can?t help but believe that Relena?s fate is to see him..?
She was broken from the memory when a young maid Relena knew well, Chiyo-chan, answered the door.
?Miss Relena?? she asked in disbelief, ?Is that you??
Relena smiled, understanding Chiyo?s confusion. With her hair loose about her shoulders, with no make-up and one of her plainer kimonos, she may have been any other woman on the street. She was pleased, though. If little Chiyo could see her as just a woman, just Relena, maybe Heero could too.
?Yes, Chiyo, it?s me. Could you tell me, please, if General Yuy is in??
Chiyo flushed bright red and smiled. All of Gion was whispering about the romance between the General and Relena, but to find herself almost part of it was almost too romantic for the young maid. ?He came by just under a half-hour ago, then left again briefly. He said he was going for a walk and would be back soon. Should I take a message??
Relena shook her head. ?No, that won?t be necessary,? she said. ?But I?ll need to ask a favour of you Chiyo?can I trust you??
?Of course, Miss Relena.?
?Good. Chiyo, I need you to take me to General Yuy?s room. And when he arrives, don?t tell him I?m here??
Chiyo-chan nodded vigorously. ?I can do that,? she said. ?Is it like a surprise? A secret meeting? I can keep a secret.?
?Yes, it is,? said Relena. ?Thank you Chiyo. Don?t worry, one day I?ll explain all this to you.?
That is, thought Relena, if I ever learn to understand it myself? {

?Why is it, Wufei, of all of the men who were there tonight, you manage to be the only one badly injured?? asked Sally, gently cleaning his wound with a damp cloth.
?I suppose?? he gritted out, wincing at the cloth touched the wound, ?I just attract trouble.?
He grinned wryly at Sally and she paid him back for his cheek by pressing a little harder than she had to with the cloth.
?Ouch, that hurt.?
?That will teach you to be nicer to those in a position to hurt you. Now, do you want any sake before I make the stitches? It will help with the pain??
Wufei scowled. ?I don?t need alcohol to deal with pain.?
?Oh well, that?s your choice then,? said Sally, holding up a fine needle to the light. ?Okay, here we go.? She put the first stitch in and Wufei winced. ?Are you alright?? she asked.
?Maybe I will have some sake.?
Sally laughed and passed him the bottle. ?Here. You and your pride, Wufei. One day it?ll get you killed, you know.?
?There are worse things in life than death, woman,? he said softly, his gaze fixed on the roof above him. His tone was so strange, Sally stopped her work to look up at him.
?Wufei??
?I was married once, you know,? he said and Sally turned her face away, continuing her work.
?Wufei, you don?t have to tell me these things. The sake has loosened your tongue.?
?Maybe for the best,? he muttered. ?So many times I?ve looked back and regretted not saying what I felt. I regret not being more attentive to my wife before she died. I didn?t love her - it was an arranged marriage and I barely knew her, barely knew myself. But when soldiers attacked our town and I wasn?t there to save her?I can?t help but feel like I didn?t do enough for her when she was alive, either.?
Sally finished the last of the stitches and grabbed the sake bottle from him. ?I think maybe we should talk more in the morning,? she said, her voice trembling from fear of what Wufei may say next.
?It?s not the sake that?s the issue, it?s me. Woman, that night I left you, after the fire, I didn?t want to go. But I couldn?t let what happened with Meiran happen with you,? he said, then added. ?Not when I love you.?
Sally bit her lip, tears gathering in her eyes. Here it was, the reason for Wufei?s wall, his secrecy, his need to protect others lives at cost to his own, his unending desire for justice. Here was the man she loved.
?Wufei?? she began, but couldn?t find the words to continue.
?Sally?come back with me to China.?
There was what seemed like an eternity of silence as Sally searched for words in the emotional turmoil of her mind. ?Wufei?I?I want to come with you. But I have a life here.?
Wufei raised an eyebrow. ?Do you? When this war ends, Noin and her sisters will return to their home. Hilde is engaged and if my suspicions are correct, you?ve just sent Relena to inform Heero she is still alive.?
Sally nodded. ?You?re right?but Wufei, are you sure? I?m not?I?m not anyone of importance. I?m barely even classed as Chinese anymore. How will your family feel??
?Does it matter? It doesn?t matter to me in the least. Only say the word, Sally, and I will stay here with you,? he told her, his dark eyes flashing with sincerity and passion.
?You?d give up your life in China to live here with me?? Sally asked in disbelief.
?Yes.?
She smiled. ?There?s no need for that, though. I want to come with you, Wufei?I want to be with you. I have since that first night.?
Wufei?s heart skipped a beat in happiness. ?Then come here, woman, and I will show you what I have wanted to do since that first night.?
After that, there was very little more to be said between them.

{

Heero wearily passed a hand over his face as he slid open the door to his room. It was so late in the evening the first glow of sunrise was peeking out over the mountains. But he didn?t care. He didn?t care about anything anymore. For the past hour or so, he?d walked through Kyoto, looking but not seeing, hearing but not listening. Over and over, the last few moments of Relena?s life had flashed before his eyes. In all his time as a soldier, in all his time on the battlefield, no one else?s death had haunted him so. Now, he felt his age and the weariness of a lifetime of fighting and all he wanted to do was sleep. Maybe, if he wished for it hard enough, he wouldn?t wake up, to feel the sun on his face, the fresh air around him and know that for all of this, the world would hold no more beauty in it for him now that she had left it.
In the darkness, he shrugged his outer coat off and sighed to the empty room, feeling himself struggle against the onset of tears. ?Relena??
?Heero.?
He turned and Relena watched his face go through a myriad of emotions: shock, disbelief, relief and?though it may have just been wishful thinking on her part?desire. She saw his eyes play out his feelings, never believing there could be so many shades of cobalt blue. And as she realised how much he was saying to her without speaking a word, a tremor ran up her spine at the knowledge that he would be the only man she could ever know this way.
He shook his head, breaking the spell. ?No, you can?t be here,? he said, almost to himself. ?I saw you?you?it?s not possible.?
?Heero, it?s alright,? she whispered, afraid to startle him even more. ?I?m alive, I?m okay.? Carefully, she reached out a hand in comfort, resting it against his cheek.
He tensed under her touch, wary of letting himself believe she was really here, letting himself think that the warmth of her hand against the coolness of his skin was anything more than his tired mind becoming delusional. But she did not take her hand away.
?How?? Was all he could say.
Silently, with her other hand, she pulled her fan from her obi and gave it to him. He tilted it back and forth, seeing how the bullet had shattered the onyx.
?Feel my touch, Heero,? she whispered. ?See my side?there?s no wound. I?m alive?and I?m with you.?
It was like a dam breaking, like a bolt of lighting in the cloudy sky. In the space of a breath, the fan fell to the ground, landing unnoticed as Heero clasped Relena?s face in his hands. She had a split second to see that his eyes were never so blue as when lit by passion before he was kissing her deeply, with such need it took her breath away. In all the time she?d known him, loved him, he?d never kissed her like this before, his lips playing with hers, his tongue teasing her as his body pressed against hers. She grasped his collar: it was all she could do to support herself.
And then, just when Relena thought she was going to burst into flames from Heero?s fervor, the kiss changed. He softened it, teasing her lips with tiny, gentle kisses, shifting his hands to her waist, holding her against him. Tingling all over with sensation, Relena moaned and Heero shifted his attention to her slender neck, brushing back the curtain of her hair to press sensual little kisses along her smooth skin.
?Oh, Heero.?
Suddenly, he let her go and Relena found herself shivering in the cool morning air, bereft of the warmth of his embrace.
?I?m sorry,? he said, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. ?I got carried away, I?m moving too fast.?
Relena just smiled sweetly, reaching out a hand and grasping his. ?Heero, by some strange blessing from the gods, I?m still here. I?ve been given one more night than I should have, and I won?t waste it on doubt and fear.? She pulled him forward, reached up and kissed him with all the love and ardor she could muster.
?Relena,? said Heero, still unsure. He knew what she was asking, and god knew he wanted to respond. Damn, every cell in his body wanted to respond, and he felt like he was going to explode, to combust from the inside out if he didn?t have her tonight. She was so gentle, so warm and real and alive in his arms? He needed her more than air tonight.
But the real world was still out there, and when this night was over, would it let them be? Would he be able to remain happy and here with her? On the other hand, he?d tried to distance himself from her before for both their sakes, and nearly ended up losing her altogether. No, she was right. They deserved tonight.
?Heero?? Relena asked, knowing he was deep in thought. ?Is everything okay??
He smiled, his first genuine smile in a long time, and took her into his arms. ?Everything?s better than okay, it?s perfect.? And with that, he kissed her and thanked whatever powers had let him keep her for one more night.


{

It had often occurred to Relena that this night may come, that she would be standing before the man she loved, but never in a million years had she imagined how nervous she would be. Strangely enough, Heero?s lust wasn?t helping matters. He wanted her so much; what if he was disappointed? She?d only slept with one other man in her life, and all she?d been expected to do for him was lie docilely beneath him while he did as he wished. It was only after that, when she?d spoken to Sally and Noin about what had happened, did she begin to understand what physical love between a man and a woman really was. Now, she was painfully aware of how little knowledge she had about these things and she froze in Heero?s embrace.
?Relena?? He stopped kissing her neck. ?Is something wrong??
?No,? she said. ?Not really. It?s just that, well, I?ve only done this once before and well...I just realised that I don?t much about how to please a man and...?
?Relena,? Heero said, cutting her off. ?Listen to me. Even if we stopped now, even if we just sat together and watched the sun rise, you would please me more than anything else in this world.?
?Heero,? she said softly, turning emotion filled blue eyes to his. ?I?ve never felt this way about anyone before. I want to make you happy....I...? she blushed. ?I want you. More than I thought I would want any man.?
?Then show me,? Heero told her, his voice husky. ?You already know how; your instinct will tell you. I know you can feel it....here...? and he placed his long fingers against her lips, ?and here,? he touched the hollow of her neck, where he felt her pulse beating quickly like a sparrow in a cage. ?And here.? He let his hand drift lower, sliding underneath her kimono, under the underrobe and against the soft skin underneath. Relena gasped as his hand cupped her breast, his lips finding that oh so sensitive spot between her collarbones. Deftly, he pulled her kimono open with his other hand, exposing her shoulders, pulling it lower until only the obi was holding it to Relena?s body.
For a second, Relena considered protesting as her breasts were exposed so shamelessly to the cool night air, but that passed the moment Heero?s warm mouth enclosed over her breast, his tongue playing with her nipple.
?Oh, dear gods, Heero...?
?Hmm?? he asked, removing his mouth for a moment. ?What is it? Hasn?t anyone ever done this to you before??
?Ah,? she gasped, struggling to put words together into a coherent sentence as sensation after sensation traveled from when Heero touched her, kissed her, to every other delicate nerve in her body. ?No...It wasn?t like this...Nothing has ever been like this.?
She felt Heero grin around her mouth. ?Good,? he said, the deep tones in his voice resonating through her skin as well as in her ears. ?I want to be the first to show you.?
?Show me what?? she began to ask, but was distracted when Heero spun her around so that he was behind her. ?Heero?? she asked, bewildered. ?What are you doing??
?Shhh...? he commanded and, before Relena could show her indignation at this, she felt the obijime - the cord that held her obi together - come loose, followed by the sensation of her obi coming loose from her body.
?Heero, let me,? she said, reaching her hands behind her to help him, knowing full well that undoing an obi was no easy task. But he stilled her hands.
?Relax,? he said, ?Let me take care of everything tonight.?
?Are you sure?? she asked, but even as she said it, the obi felt to the floor to pool around her feet. Free from its bindings, her kimono fell open, leaving her practically naked. Heero, turning her around, noticed this straightaway and raised an eyebrow.
?You didn?t bind your underrobe,? he said, and Relena blushed.
?Well, you don?t think I didn?t come here tonight without some sort of idea as to what would happen?? she asked indignantly. ?And how do you know how a woman?s kimono works, anyway? Have you spent so much time undressing women you could do it in your sleep??
Heero laughed. ?You think so little of me? I wasn?t the only one not to have wanted this night, to imagine it. A good soldier is always prepared: I consulted Duo on the matter of women?s clothing prior to coming here - once I knew he and Hilde were seeing each other.?
?Oh,? Relena said meekly, feeling put in her place. ?I see.?
?And anyway,? added Heero. ?Even if I?d spent the night with a hundred women, I would still think you?re the most beautiful woman I?ve ever seen.? And to give meaning to his words, he closed the gap between him and slid his hands into her open kimono.
His touch was everywhere, setting her on fire. Relena could barely think, barely stand as he kissed her, held her to him. Luckily, her body knew what to do and without thinking, her hands went to Heero?s own obi, pulling it open and pushing his top off. Heero briefly thought about slowing her down, about making this night last as long as it possibly could, but her deft fingers were touching him with such desperation, but also such na?vet?, feeling the ridges of his chest, tracing the lines of his shoulders. Soon enough, she spotted the scars that ran along his abdomen, on his upper arms, wounds from battle that had not healed without leaving their mark.
?Oh, Heero,? she said;
Heero tried to pull away. But Relena held him fast. ?Don?t the scars...?? he asked, ?Don?t they...??
?Heero, being a soldier is who you are, and nothing about that could ever turn me away from you,? she said and gently, oh so gently, began to place little kisses along the scars, along his chest.
It was the breaking straw for Heero?s self control. With a soft groan of desperation, he swung Relena up into his arms and laid her upon the futon, instantly joining her, touching her body, kissing her.
She moaned, her innocent motions against him urging him on, wearing down his determination to go slow. His hand worked its way down her body, across the soft skin of her thighs and finally, when Relena thought she could stand no more, the pleasure was too much, he touched the very core of her.
?Ah!? she cried, her body melting around his touch as he rubbed her, caressed her. ?Heero...oh, Heero...it?s so...so...?
?What?? he asked, kissing her gently. ?What are you trying to say??
?I can?t describe it,? she said, gasping as he went deeper, faster, drawing her to somewhere she?d never been before but wanted to get there so badly. ?There aren?t any words...I...oh!? She cried out, trembling in his embrace. Her soft surrender to him was too much for Heero, though, and he pushed his trousers off in a hurry. Yet, even in his need for her, he had to be sure she wanted this, had to be sure he wasn?t the only one feeling this way. He didn?t have to ask her, though. With a smile, she kissed him gently, wrapping her legs around him.
?Now, Heero,? she urged, but it wasn?t necessary. With a grateful sigh, Heero lowered himself into her, gently pushing deeper and deeper. Relena gasped, tightening her arms around him.
?Heero, yes Heero,? she murmured, pushing her hips up to meet him. ?Please....?
Heero smiled wickedly. ?Please what?? he asked, slowing his thrusts to a torturous pace.
?Oh, gods,? she cried, ?Please, please Heero...I don?t know...I don?t know what it is I need...?
He kissed her in reassurance. ?I understand,? he said, ?I feel it too.? He pushed harder, faster, moaning as he felt her tighten around him in response. ?Look at me, Relena...See what you do to me...?
She lifted her eyes to his as his pace increased, trying to focus on his face, trying to see through the haze of sensation and pleasure that was filling her entire body from where Heero was moving inside of her. ?Heero...?
?Look at me,? he gasped out, thrusting faster and faster, deeper and deeper.
She could do nothing but obey, fixing her eyes on his, watching his expression of determination and desire. She remained watching him, even as she felt herself explode, felt her world come apart and form again, felt every nerve in her body more acutely than ever before. It was the most exquisite dance, the sweetest song. He joined her at the same time, his gaze fixed on hers and she watched her own passion played out in his eyes.
?Relena,? he gasped out, falling against her. ?Relena...?
?Shhh,? she said, stroking his back. His weight against her was warm and comforting. ?You don?t need to say anything. I know.?
He remained silent, simply sighing and Relena smiled at the warmth of his breath against her neck.
Finally, he lifted his weight from her and lay beside her, bringing her to lie upon his chest. They dozed for a little while and then awoke to make love again. As the first few rays of sunlight came through the window, they illuminated Relena?s hair and turned the room golden for the two lovers. And then, as the sun rose over the mountains, they went out onto the patio, wrapped in a blanket and watched the dawn in silence, content to merely be there in each other?s embrace.
?Relena,? Heero whispered.
?Yes?? she replied, leaning her head back against his chest to see his face.
?I love you.?
She turned back towards the dawn, ?I know that. I love you too, Heero.?
?I?m not just saying that because of last night,? said Heero softly. ?I want to stay here with you. You?re all that matters to me and I want us to be together.?
Relena smiled. Those were the words she had been waiting for, for so long. ?When you get back from Tokyo, we will be together.?
Heero shook his head. ?I don?t think you understand what I'm saying. I?m not going to go to Tokyo. I?m going to give up the responsibility of this treaty to someone else and stay here with you. I?ll talk to Sally about becoming your danna, or if that won?t work, I?ll pay off your debts and...?
?What?? Relena spun in his embrace, the full impact of his words coming down on her like a bucket of ice, like an earthquake threatening to rock her world to the core. ?You can?t mean that. You aren?t giving up on the peace treaty, are you? It?s what you?ve worked so hard for, and it won?t work without you supporting it.?
?I thought it meant the world to me,? said Heero solemnly, ?but seeing you last night, ready to give your life up for my dream... It gave me clarity. I saw that nothing in this world is more important to me than you. I won?t leave you alone and risk having you hurt in order for someone else to get to me. Trieze may not have been my only enemy, and certainly not the only one who would consider using you against me.?
?Then take me with you to Tokyo,? said Relena. ?I?m sure we can work something out with Sally and Noin.?
?You won?t be any safer there,? Heero replied. ?No, the only way to keep you safe is for the peace treaty becomes someone else?s responsibility.?
?But Heero, that treaty means so much to so many people. You?re the hope for so many.?
?And you?re the hope for me.? He took her face in his hands. ?I won?t lose you, Relena. I would rather die than leave your side or put you in harm's way...again. You were right: the Gods were sending us a message by saving your life. I won?t be so foolish as to ignore it. Giving up the treaty is a small price to pay.?
Relena was distraught. This wasn?t happening, it couldn?t be happening. If she let Heero give up his effort for peace for her sake, she would never be able to look into the mirror without seeing the faces of all the thousands of people who would die if the war did not end. ?Heero, that treaty means peace.?
But he would not be swayed. ?Peace will mean nothing without you. I would rather fight a hundred more wars and know you are safe, than bring about peace and know it could cost me your life.? His voice became softer. ?I saw you die once, Relena, I won?t let it happen again. My mind is made up. Today, Duo will go to Tokyo in my place and explain things to the Emperor. What he chooses to do after that is no longer my concern.?
?Oh, Heero,? said Relena, her heart breaking. What have I done?
He brought her face up to his. ?Don?t worry; everything will work out for the best. You?ll see.? He kissed her then but even as he did, tears were gathering in Relena?s eyes. He may have been happy to live with the sacrifice of peace, but she could not - especially knowing it was because of her.
Deep in her heart, deep where her fears and hopes resided, she knew what she had to do. It would take all the acting skills she?d learnt as a geisha, and all the courage she had to pull it off, but there was no other way. It had to be done.
Putting on the best smile she could muster, Relena pulled away and stood up. ?If your mind is made up, there?s nothing I can do. I love you Heero, and I trust in your decision.?
He nodded. ?I couldn?t lose you, Relena. Not again.?
?I understand. I?ll just get changed and ask for some food to be sent up. We can discuss details over breakfast.?
?Of course.?
Relena went back in the room and dressed in her kimono as quickly as she possibly could. If she was going to do this, it had to be done quickly - before she lost her nerve.
A few minutes later, she was back with two teacups, a teapot and some macha: thick, green Japanese tea. Heero was dressed and seated at the small table.
"They will be bringing some food up soon," said Relena. Then, as tradition dictated, she prepared the tea in a ceremonial fashion, mixing the tea into a green broth, then pouring two cups, one for Heero then one for herself.
Heero smiled gratefully as she passed him his cup. He let it cool, then brought it to his lips. ?Mmmm, that?s good. I can?t believe how thirsty I am.?
?It?s been a long day,? said Relena. ?You haven?t stopped since yesterday morning, I imagine. Plus, you must still be recovering from that wound.?
Heero frowned. ?I can?t believe I was snuck up on so easily. If one of my soldiers was so easily ambushed, I would have had no sympathy for him.? He paused to yawn. ?It has been a long day, though. I?m so tired.?
Relena watched him carefully.
?In fact,? Heero added, his eyes drooping. ?I?m suddenly very tired. Relena, something?s not right...?
She didn?t move, not even when Heero?s head began to fall towards the table. And that?s when he saw it.
Relena hadn?t touched her tea.
If one of my soldiers were so easily ambushed, I would have had no sympathy for him.
Thinking back on his words, Heero couldn?t believe how stupid he?d been.
Sleeping drugs in the tea. "Relena...? He wanted to speak to her, wanted to ask why. But it was pointless - he knew why. But he didn?t understand and he didn?t want to - why wouldn't she let him protect her?
He no longer had the strength to speak; his eyes were as heavy as lead, his body was as weary as if the past 5 years or so of battle had finally caught up with him all at once.
As his head hit the table, he managed to lift his eyes up to her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her lip trembled. ?I?m so sorry, Heero,? she whispered. ?But you left me with no other choice. I couldn?t give up all their lives for mine, even one as happy as I would be by your side. Do know that I love you. And I know one day you?ll understand and maybe even be able to forgive me. But until then, please forget me. Live on as if I never existed.?
Heero?s eyes closed and unconsciousness pulled him in. But he managed to say one last word to her - the woman he loved, the woman who had betrayed him.
?Wasurenai.?
And then darkness enclosed him and he knew no more.

Translations:
Macha: a special type of green tea.
By the way, in teahouses like the Ichikoko, food isn't actually served by the geisha, but by maids. Geisha really only serve tea or sake, and that isn't for servicing sake but the interaction between client and geisha is a good starting point for conversation. (Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of "Can I get you a beer?")

Author?s note: Um...okay...well...I guess you?re just going to have to keep reading now, hey? *Dodges flying axes* Hey I said I was sorry for the cliffhangers last time. Am I going to have to say it again? *Receives numerous death glares* Okay, okay, I?m sorry...geez, tough crowd.